Читать книгу Chicharito - The Biography of Javier Hernandez - Frank Worrall - Страница 11

After the highs and ultimate low of the 2010 World Cup, Javier Hernandez would take a full month away from football. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had told him before the tournament that he would get his extended break so that he could be fresh when he finally joined up with the Red Devils squad.

Mexico had gone out of the World Cup to arch rivals Argentina on June 28 and it would be four weeks exactly before Chicharito finally linked up with Fergie and his boys – on July 26, in Houston, Texas.

He had flown home to Mexico to see family and friends in Guadalajara in the interim and had also sorted out accommodation in Manchester. It was revealed that he would initially stay in a hotel but he would eventually move into a luxury home in Cheshire, a few miles from United’s Carrington training centre.

But by July 25 he had flown on to the United States. He headed for Houston, arriving a day earlier than his new team-mates to fulfil some promotional commitments. His first port of call was an AT&T store in the city, where he met fans and signed autographs. Remarkably, more than 1,000 fans had waited patiently outside the store to meet their hero – a player who was still relatively unknown in Europe and England!

The following day he finally met up with Sir Alex as United arrived in Houston. The boss shook him warmly by the hand and introduced him to his new team-mates. Fergie was like the cat who’d got the cream as he told the travelling press pack that the boy was a bargain at £7million – and that he would prove to be one of his best buys ever. Fergie said he would expect to pay more than £20million if he tried to buy him now and paid tribute to his South American scouting staff for their coup, ‘I think our scouting people get 10 out of 10 for identifying him before the World Cup, and, I think if we’d tried to negotiate after the World Cup, it would have been very difficult. I think a lot of teams would have been after him, and he would probably have cost us two or three times as much. So, well done to my scouting department. The amazing thing is that no one in at Chivas [his old club in Mexico] said a word. At United we find that almost impossible, but Chivas kept it quiet, which was a marvellous asset for us.’

United assistant manager Mike Phelan was also bubbling and upbeat about the boy, saying, Phelan said: ‘We were quietly pleased with what we saw of Javier at the World Cup. We did the deal before the World Cup and that has probably helped us a little bit! He has only just begun his career with the national team but already he is a very influential player for Mexico.’

Chicharito would make his debut in United’s match against a Major League All Stars team in Houston on July 28. There was certainly a local buzz and hype about Javier as match day loomed. Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake goalkeeper who would start for the All-Stars, told the Daily Telegraph’s Mark Ogden, ‘Hernandez is a fantastic player and real feisty in the 18-yard box. I played against him last year for Real Salt Lake when he was at Chivas. He’s very dynamic, loves to go forward and loves to get the ball over the top. He scores goals, scores a ton of goals, and that’s why Manchester United signed him.’

Sir Alex realised there was great interest among the city’s Mexican-Americans and admitted he would like to blood the player in the game against the All Stars to give them a treat. He said: ‘We’d like to use him for at least part of the game. One, because I know there’s a big Mexican population in Houston, and, secondly, we want to integrate him into the team as quickly as possible. We want to just have a chat with him and see what he’s been doing physically, because I don’t think it would be wise playing him without any physical preparation for this game.’

Fergie revealed that Javier would wear the No. 14 shirt for United and that it would be emblazoned with ‘Chicharito’ on the back. Javier himself was his usual humble, quietly self-assured self as the build-up to the MLS match increased. He said, ‘It’s cool that a nickname that has been a family tradition is getting known by more and more people. Now I’m with United, hopefully we can get even more to see it – it’s a family nickname that I’m very proud of.’

He also spoke of his pride at becoming a United player, ‘Players like Giggs, Scholes and Wayne Rooney, these are people I would watch on the television. I would even play with them on PlayStation! I dreamed of one day being able to play with all of them and I’m going to try to learn from them the most I can. But I also want to add my little grain of sand because this is a team sport and I want to win a title. I want us to be a great team and to be able to win those titles.’

Chicharito came off the bench, as a sub for Nani on the hour, in the match against the All Stars in Houston – with a predictable outcome – yes, he scored on his debut!

The Daily Mail led the way with the rhapsodies in the British Press about his display, saying, ‘The “Little Pea” was a big hit on his first appearance for Manchester United as Javier Hernandez came off the bench to steal the show at Houston’s Reliant Stadium.

‘Sir Alex Ferguson has been talking up his £7m signing from Chivas on United’s tour of North America and the young man they call “Chicharito” lived up to expectations when he was sent on for Nani in the 63rd minute to the biggest cheer of the night from a largely Hispanic crowd.

‘The Mexico striker has played no football since the World Cup and only met his new team-mates for the first time on Monday, but you would never have known it from the way he settled in to the game…Hernandez showed not the slightest hint of nerves as he lobbed the ball first time over the advancing Rimando. It was an instinctive goal from a 22-year-old clearly high on confidence, and Ferguson was delighted.’

The Sun also praised Chicharito for a splendid opening statement of intent, with Neil Custis saying, ‘Javier Hernandez enjoyed a dream debut for Manchester United with a goal to cap victory against the MLS All-Stars. Hernandez was introduced in the second half to the biggest cheer of the night from a crowd of 70,728. There are 950,000 people of Mexican descent in Houston and there were plenty here to welcome Chicharito – known as the Little Pea. And what a moment it was for him the 84th minute when he latched onto a through ball from Paul Scholes. The ball bounced once and as keeper Donovan Ricketts rushed out, the former Chivas striker coolly lifted the ball over him. The whole United team ran towards him in celebration as boss Alex Ferguson rose from the bench to applaud.’

Sir Alex would comment after the match about Chicharito’s speed and timing, two aspects of his game that made it nigh on impossible to deal with him, ‘The one thing defenders worry about is players with speed, who get into the space behind them. When you see his goal it is an indication of that speed. The timing of his run, coming towards the ball spinning, he is going to be a threat to defenders, no question.’

United won the match 5-2 and the Daily Telegraph suggested that Javier’s showing had forced Fergie into a rethink of his plans for the new season – that he might now seriously consider linking the young Mexican with Rooney, ‘Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed plans to devise a formula to pair Javier Hernández with Wayne Rooney in a new-look Manchester United strike force following the Mexican forward’s stunning debut against the MLS All-Stars in Houston.’

Fergie explained, ‘In terms of how the combination with Wayne will work, I think we will need to adjust a little bit because I think they could both be similar types of players. But at the moment, we will just assess Hernandez and try to bring him to a consistent level of form. He still has little things to do, but not a great deal, in terms of technique.’

United fans back in England were delighted with what they had seen of Hernandez – with many of them expressing their impatience for him to make his debut in the Premier League! One supporter, Ezekele, summed up the optimism about Chicharito’s signing and the belief that he could help the club to win back the European Cup, saying, ‘I had a great feeling about this guy from the minute I heard about him. Clandestine meetings with Man U scouts, didn’t even tell him mum, dad or girlfriend about the move until Man U wanted him to. He seems like a real team player and just in the few games I have seen he runs the defensive line silly – he’s here and there. He’s gonna make some space for Rooney. Good luck to the Reds and maybe just one more big signing in midfield – or maybe Fletcher and Gibson can do that job. Let’s go and prove that money doesn’t buy everything. Want the European Cup this year – the squad is almost perfectly balanced.’

The final match on the South American tour saw United land in Mexico – and head for Chivas, the club from whom they had purchased Javier. Ladbrokes set the scene and suggested Chicharito might be worth putting on a little bet! They said, ‘Javier Hernandez will return the ground where he honed his game, as Manchester United visit Mexico to take on Chivas Guadalajara in the final leg of their American tour. After a 5-2 win over the MLS All Stars last time out, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are understandably 8/13 to come out of the game victorious. However, Chivas (7/2 to win) will have a well-known weapon for one half of the match: Hernandez himself. The player nicknamed Chicharito is playing 45 minutes for both teams but Ferguson has a warning to the 22-year-old. Asked what happens if his new player scores against United, the boss said: “He’ll be fined and transferred back!”’

The showpiece match was part of the deal for the player – and the locals were excited by the prospect of the Red Devils playing in their town. Hernandez was also excited to be returning back to his previous club in such a glorious situation while Chivas were ready to welcome back their prodigal son…and take a key stash of cash from the match.

The Guadalajara Reporter told how the match meant so much to the fans of Chivas – and what a prestigious coup it was, ‘Manchester United, perhaps the world’s most famous soccer team, will be in Guadalajara July 30 to play Chivas at the inauguration of the new Estadio Chivas. As part of the deal, the Tapatio goalscoring sensation Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez will be playing in the red shirt of Manchester United next season…

‘The Chivas vs Manchester United game represents a major coup for Chivas owner Jorge Vergara, whose Estadio Chivas has been the subject of a small amount of ridicule in the local press due to predicted inauguration dates that came and went, over and over again. Bringing Manchester United, with world stars like Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs, to town already has the city buzzing.’

Chicharito told of his anticipation about returning home. He said, ‘It’s a dream and I feel so happy. In our country Manchester United are seen as the top team and the reception they will get will be fabulous.’

The footie fans in Guadalajara were also looking forward to it. One local, Stefany, said, ‘Chicharito is my favorite soccer player in the WORLD! And I’m proud that he is Mexican like me, and I know that he’s going to represent our country well. And show what we are made of. He played for my favourite team Chivas de Guadalajara and I’m really looking forward to seeing them play against Manchester United.

While another fan, Jair, said, ‘I’m really excited to see Chicharito play because it’s really exciting to watch him play in any game. I’m Mexican and it’s great to have someone represent my nation in a world-class team. My team aren’t Chivas – I support their rivals, Club America – but Hernandez is still one of my favourite players.’

Chicharito would start the game in a Chivas shirt and then swap it for the red of United after the interval. In an entertaining game he scored for the hosts as they notched up a surprise 3-2 win, his goal coming on eight minutes.’

But Aja urged caution as the accolades continued to be thrown on to Hernandez’s shoulders, ‘United can’t afford another under-performing striker – with Berbatov and Owen desperate for appearances, Macheda and Diouf occasionally showing in the Cup competitions. I’m afraid a lot of pressure is on Hernandez to be an instant hit. If you don’t work alongside Rooney, you don’t get in the team’

The Daily Mail was of a much different opinion and reported, ‘Hernandez, who has been given a hero’s reception on his return to Mexico, was the centre of attention from the start and was given a standing ovation when his name was read out. And he rewarded the fans who had come to cheer him by becoming the first player to score at Chivas’ new stadium, striking left-footed first time from Adolfo Bautista’s chest-down to send it into the bottom right corner.’

And Goal were just as impressed by the new boy’s showing, ‘Sir Alex Ferguson will be encouraged by Javier Hernandez’s superb strike in the final game of Manchester United’s pre-season tour of North America, despite the goal coming against his own side. The Mexican international, who signed from United’s opponents Chivas Guadalajara, played the first-half for his former club as the home side marked Friday’s fixture to open their new 45,000-capacity Chivas Stadium. Hernandez needed just eight minutes to provide the Chivas supporters with a suitable farewell gift. From Adolfo Bautista’s chested lay-off, the 22-year-old rifled the ball first time into the bottom-right corner of the net from just outside the area.’

Meanwhile, the Press Association added, ‘Hernandez, who has been given a hero’s reception on his return to Mexico, was the centre of attention from the start and was given a standing ovation when his name was read out. Fittingly he rewarded the fans who had come to cheer him by becoming the first player to score at Chivas’s new stadium, hitting a left-footed shot into the bottom corner from Bautista’s chest-down.’

The most important view of everyone went down particularly well with Javier – yes, when boss Fergie said, ‘Chicharito was first class. His goal for Chivas was a marvellous strike. He showed his real qualities. It was always my intention to give him only 15 minutes of the second half as he is in the process of recovering from the World Cup.

‘He will now do some fitness training and endurance work when he arrives in Manchester and he will play more games. Chicharito has done really well. The players have all remarked how good he is and what a great finisher he is. The players are all supportive of him and have welcomed him to the club. I think he has a great future with us.

‘The 4-3-3 formation suits us in some games, particularly in Europe because it’s important to guard against the counter-attack and keep possession.

‘I think Chicharito can play as a lone striker, there’s no question about that. He did it in the World Cup for Mexico. But there are big possibilities of a partnership with Wayne Rooney and other players.’

The defeat might have been a setback and unexpected – but it shouldn’t have been. Chivas were no walkovers as they proved by thrashing Champions League winners Barcelona 4-1 just four days after United crashed at the same stadium!

The same night as Barca were being thrashed, United were playing in Dublin against a League of Ireland XI in a match at the new Aviva Stadium. United emerged as 7-1 winners with Hernandez impressing with his nimbleness of foot and obvious goal threat – and he got on the scoresheet just seconds after coming on as second-half substitute. The Daily Mail said of his goal, ‘Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez took just 93 seconds to get on the scoresheet after replacing Wayne Rooney at half-time - evidence that the £7m Mexico striker is a natural predator.’

Sir Alex was delighted with his new signing and said, Sir Alex Ferguson said: ‘Our goals were good, some of them very good. Hernandez’s goal was fantastic. We’ve got good, young strikers in the club and they’re exciting me very much alongside the experience of Rooney, Owen and Berbatov. The only injury we’ve got is Michael Carrick, who has an ankle problem which will put him out of Sunday’s Community Shield game.

‘Rooney has only been training for six days, along with Owen and Park, and they’re definitely not ready for real games so 45 minutes was fine for them. I’ll have to play them against Chelsea on Sunday because that will help to bring them on.’

Next up for Chicharito would be that match against the Blues. He would make his debut in England at the game’s national stadium, Wembley, and would show again that he not only had much promise, but also that he had talent now – and was ready to roll now. Many pundits had imagined he would need a season to adjust to the raw power and pace of English football.

How very wrong they were…from the Community Shield to the Champions League the following May, Chicharito would enjoy a scintillating debut season in Manchester.